Spectral and thermal studies of rare earth complexes with 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoic acid

The rare earth element 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoates were prepared as solids with the general formula Ln(C10H11O2)(3). nH(2)O, where n=2 for Ln=Y, La-Nd, and n=1 for Ln=Sm-Lu. The IR spectra of the complexes prepared were recorded and their solubilities in water and thermal decomposition in the air were investigated. During heating the hydrated complexes lose all the crystallization water molecules in one (Y, Ce-Lu) or two steps (La) and then the anhydrous complexes decompose either directly to oxides (Y, Ce, Pr, Sm-Lu) or with intermediate formation oxocarbonates Ln(2)O(2)CO(3) (La, Nd). The carboxylate groups in the complexes prepared act probably as mono- and bidentate.